The most significant event in the life of two young people who decided to unite their destinies is, of course, their wedding day. In order for the wedding event to take place at the proper level and leave the best and most joyful memories for a long time, the bride and groom carefully think through their external image of the newlyweds and select wedding dresses and accessories accordingly.
Typically, brides pay a lot of attention to their appearance, while grooms take a more modest approach to choosing an outfit. White shirt, tie, traditional classic suit, boutonniere in the buttonhole - this is what the groom’s traditional outfit looks like.
What does a boutonniere symbolize and why should the groom have one at his wedding?
Even in ancient Rome, there were accessories for newlyweds; the bride pinned a flower to her lover’s suit, symbolizing her love. Slavic girls expressed their love differently; they wove wreaths and gave them to their beloved man.
The first flowers to be attached to a jacket were invented for the wedding of Prince Albert in England. Previously, it was believed that if a girl wove a wreath for a guy with her own hands and attached it to the left side of his shirt, then this amulet protected the man from evil spirits and the evil eye.
Today, the composition only symbolizes the belonging of a man to a woman.
The role of the boutonniere in the image
In the Middle Ages, knights wore boutonnieres, pinning them on their clothes from the heart side. This symbolized that the lover’s heart belonged to his lady.
Also, grooms used to wear boutonnieres, believing that they scared away evil spirits that would interfere with the completion of the mysterious wedding ceremony.
What is the role of the boutonniere in modern wedding dresses?
- A tribute to tradition.
- A symbol of love and unity with her.
- Stylish decoration for an outfit.
- Maintaining the overall style of the celebration.
- A distinctive feature of those getting married and witnesses.
How to choose a boutonniere for the groom for a wedding?
To choose the right and harmonious composition, you should follow three simple rules:
- the decorative decoration should be combined with the bride’s outfit, so you should choose models in a similar color scheme;
- you can complement the boutonniere with additional elements that are used to decorate the main bouquet;
- It is better to choose inflorescences that do not wither for a long time without water, or give preference to seasonal flowers.
Boutonniere made of fresh flowers or artificial?
Artificial decorative decorations will cost a couple much less than models made from fresh flowers.
Advantages of an artificial boutonniere:
- will not wither;
- will not crumble;
- the appearance will remain unchanged.
A bouquet of live inflorescences will look much more impressive, as it will fit perfectly with the main composition of the bride. This ensemble will highlight the individuality of the couple. When choosing boutonnieres from fresh flowers, experts advise purchasing two sets, in case the first one withers or someone damages it.
From feathers
Instead of traditional miniature flower bouquets for the groom, you can offer an alternative boutonniere made from feathers. This original and interesting wedding composition is distinguished by its brightness and unusual appearance.
Fluffy feathers as the basis of a boutonniere in combination with a satin ribbon can turn this accessory into a real work of hand-made art.
If you look closely at the photo, you can see that a feather boutonniere is not much more difficult to make than a flower one.
Which flower is best for a boutonniere?
The couple should choose the number of buds and their design together, the main thing is that they are securely attached to the lapel of the jacket.
Rose
A symbol of love, care and admiration, it is better to give preference to small roses and not bright shades. You should not single them out; roses are often chosen to match the groom's tie.
Iris
Symbolizes masculinity, emphasizes valor and courage. You can make a bouquet of iris, which will evoke a spring mood with its appearance. Very often, florists arrange white roses or lilies, iris and several branches of fern into one composition.
Orchid
Emphasizes luxury and wealth. An orchid will show the sophistication of a man and the elegance of his outfit. Experts advise making an accessory for a man from one flower.
Freesia
They symbolize aristocracy and are very popular, since very often lovers order discreet or bright mini bouquets of freesias to emphasize individuality.
Today, you can choose any bud for decorative decorations, since florists will treat it with a special chemical solution, and it will not fade throughout the entire special day.
Boutonnieres made from various decorative elements
If you show your imagination, then to make a boutonniere for the groom with your own hands, you can use everything you have in stock: paper flowers, dried flowers, feathers, beads, decorative buttons, beads.
The assembly technique remains the same: one large element, additional small elements and connecting the entire structure using tape.
How to wear a boutonniere correctly?
At a wedding there are many traditions that everyone carries out with pleasure, because they don’t want any troubles; the groom’s accessory has its own traditions and beliefs.
- You need to fasten the boutonniere on the left side, where the heart is located.
- The bouquet should be secured with a safety pin so that none of the guests can jinx the couple. Important - none of the guests should see the pin.
- You cannot give away your wedding decorations to anyone; upon handing over, at the end of the evening, the young guy should replace his bouquet with a second one purchased in advance, so that happiness and love does not leave the family, it must be kept throughout the entire life together.
Where to attach the boutonniere
Initially, this attribute was hung exclusively on the left lapel of the jacket using a special loop. Many modern variations of costumes lack this element.
The easiest way is to attach it with an invisible pin to the clothing on the chest. If the accessory is used for all guests, then bachelors hang it on the left side, and married men on the right.
There are no clear rules for attaching boutonnieres for women: a friend can wear it on his hand, like an original flower bracelet, attach it to the belt of an outfit or on the handle of a handbag. For the bride, it is usually hung on the left side of the dress along the neckline.
Boutonniere on the bride's hand
Previously, compositions were attached only to men, but from the 20th century they began to decorate the hands of ladies.
The bouquet should not overload the girl’s hand and emphasize the style of the wedding. It should include one large flower or several small ones.
Combinations of flowers, ribbons and greenery will emphasize the elegance and individuality of the girl.
You can also purchase masterpieces made from polymer clay for the newlywed’s hand, which will look no worse than a living bouquet.
And compositions made from ribbons will look no less elegant on the hand, and during the wedding their appearance will not deteriorate, and the bride will also have an accessory as a keepsake.
Accessories for witnesses
Witnesses are the closest friends at the celebration for the bride and groom, so honor them with boutonnieres. They should repeat the style of the bride's bouquet and the groom's boutonniere, but not overshadow their beauty. The mini-bouquet for the witness should not be made the same as for the groom. The best option is to create it in the same tone, but with smaller buds and different decor. Or go the other way: choose jewelry to match the bridesmaid’s outfit, maintaining the desired style. Then pairs of young people and witnesses will look as harmonious as possible.
A boutonniere for a bridesmaid can be made in the classic version of a mini-bouquet, or in the version of a corsage on the wrist. In the second case, it is better to use artificial plants or polymer clay, because... On the hand, fresh flowers are subject to deformation. This accessory should be similar to a bride's bouquet, but with different decorations.
How to make it yourself
Boutonnieres for witnesses from artificial flowers can be prepared independently in advance, but if you plan to use fresh inflorescences in the composition, such decorations are made several hours before the start of the event. Want to get everything done the night before your wedding? You can preserve the freshness of flowers by placing the finished boutonnieres in the refrigerator, in a special bag with small slits. It is advisable to practice beforehand, otherwise you risk being left without boutonnieres for witnesses and guests.
Fresh flowers must be fresh. At the same time, it is better to give preference to half-opened buds. Before work, put them in water for two hours: this will allow them to be saturated and not need additional moisture. In addition to flowers you will need:
- tape for taping;
- floral wire (about 10 centimeters);
- pins for fastening;
- glue;
- all kinds of decorative elements (twigs, hard berries, blades of grass, spikelets, feathers, rhinestones, beads, ribbons, lace, leaves or shells).
Let's move on to assembly. A women's boutonniere for the wrist is made according to the principle of a wreath. If we are talking about a classic design, you will have to tinker a little. The stem is cut obliquely and pierced with floral wire. To string leaves onto it, the wire is carefully threaded along the central veins. Each element of the boutonniere is wrapped tightly and without breaks with ribbon. This will help retain moisture in the stem.
When all the components are prepared, start assembling the composition. The central flower is the main one in the boutonniere, so the remaining decorative elements are placed in one of three options of your choice.
After this, the flower stems are tightly twisted with taping tape, the excess wire is cut off, and a pin is sewn to the finished boutonniere.
Handmade boutonnieres will be even more valuable to their lucky owners, because you put your love and care into making these cute decorations. Just a little bit of hard work, patience and imagination will allow you to create a piece of jewelry that will remain as a keepsake for your loved ones.
Boutonniere for witnesses. Is this attribute necessary for witnesses?
Groomsmen always play a special role at weddings. They are located next to the young and young, assist in various parts of the festive action, both at the wedding in the registry office and at the wedding in the cathedral, and take a very active part in the photo shoot and banquet part of the wedding. It goes without saying that a lot of time and attention must be given to them as well. These seemingly inconspicuous items include highlighting them among the mass of invited guests. For this reason, boutonnieres for witnesses can help emphasize their formal appearance and celebratory role at the wedding.
